Hazards associated with working in confined spaces

The release of new OSHA standards has everyone talking about the way that workers operate within confined spaces. According to OSHA, these new rules should protect the construction industry from about 780 preventable injuries from working under these conditions.

The change has been a long time coming—other industries are well ahead of construction in this area, and the last time confined space safety practices were revised was in 1993 (although even these changes weren’t directed toward the construction industry). As a review, here are some of the hazards associated with working in confined spaces to remind why it is important to follow safety protocol.

One major threat to workers in confined spaces is atmosphere and air quality. In some areas, concentrations of oxygen may be too low or too high, and flammable or toxic gasses may be present. The key to combatting this is securing proper ventilation in areas where harmful gasses could build up. Ventilation should be working properly over the entire course of the work being done, and should any problems with ventilation occur, the area should be evacuated until the problem can be solved.

Not all confined space hazards occur immediately within the space itself. Sometimes, workers operating outside but close by can be the cause of an emergency that poses a danger to a worker in a confined space. The area supervisor should be aware of and address appropriately any of these concerns that might affect labor in a specific confined space. Likewise, the supervisor should be attentive to ways that the labor in the confined space could affect other nearby workers.

In areas that could easily be flooded or filled with debris, workers are in danger of engulfment, which could cause immediate and possibly fatal harm to the worker or could make it difficult or impossible to breathe. The possibility of engulfment should be examined and prepared against from every possible angle, and additional arrangements should be made to protect the worker in case any of the preparations fail.

While this list is by no means exhaustive, you can see that the concerns related to working in confined spaces are very serious. That’s why it’s important to always follow the appropriate guidelines for working under these conditions—for your safety, and for the safety of your fellow workers. Wright Brothers places the highest value on the safety of our workers, and we refuse to cut corners for productivity’s sake.

_For more information about official OSHA guidelines for addressing any issues associated with working in confined spaces, consult the OSHA website _here.